At a Glance

These advanced parameters help fine-tune your toolpaths for profile operations, inlays, and part retention using bridges. By customizing widths, steps, and bridges (aka tabs), you can optimize cut quality, maintain part integrity, and streamline production.

Parameters

Widths

Cut Width
Specifies the additional width to cut on a profile pass, beyond the tool diameter.

Steps
Sets how many passes will be made to remove the extra width. Steps are spaced horizontally across the width, similar to depth passes vertically.

Max Per Step
Defines the maximum width of material removed per step. If this is decreased, the number of steps will increase accordingly. This value is auto-calculated based on tool size and cut width unless manually overridden.

Per Step
The actual calculated width of cut per step based on the number of steps and max per step.

Inlay

Enable Inlay
Turns on support for inlay-style toolpaths, where a gap is intentionally created between male and female parts for fitment.

Inlay Gap
Specifies the total gap to leave between mating parts. Ibex automatically applies the gap to both male and female toolpaths.
Example: If you set an inlay gap of 0.1", both toolpaths will offset by 0.05" to produce a total clearance of 0.1".

Bridges – Profile Toolpaths

Bridges are small sections of uncut material that prevent the part from shifting or detaching during machining. Bridges are also sometimes referred to as tabs.

Bridge Profile
Determines the bridge shape and motion pattern:

Lift:
Creates a direct lift to the defined bridge height, travels across the bridge, and returns to the cut depth.

Ramp:
The tool ramps in a straight line up to the bridge height, moves across, and ramps back down in a straight line. The width defines the total span of the ramp.

Smooth:
Uses an S-curve motion to smoothly ramp up and down from the cut depth to the bridge height and back.

Length
The total horizontal length of the bridge.

Height
The maximum vertical height of the bridge.

Spacing Method
Determines how bridges are distributed:

By Number:
Define the number of bridges per toolpath. They will be spaced evenly along the perimeter.

By Spacing:
Define the minimum distance between bridges. Ibex will generate as many bridges as possible based on the defined spacing.